Admission

From preschool through high school, Sanford School students pursue a challenging, engaging, college-prep curriculum while discovering the talents, strengths, and passions that shape their individual journeys. Our rigorous program is balanced by our desire to develop well-rounded students. There is no mold that Sanford students need to fit. The common thread through all our programs—and our students—is the bold pursuit of excellence.

Academics

Sanford offers all the advantages that make an independent school education so valuable. Our bold approach to learning offers every student a rigorous, engaging, well-rounded, college-preparatory curriculum. From preschool to high school, Sanford students delve deep into core subjects as well as music and visual arts, world languages and cultures, and athletics. Led by our stellar faculty, Sanford students become critical thinkers, adept problem-solvers, independent learners, powerful self-advocates, and effective leaders. Our expectations are high, but so is the genuinely caring, developmentally appropriate support we provide at each level. Sanford students leave us as articulate, creative, self-assured, caring, and responsible young people who return to tell us how well prepared they feel not just for college, but for life.

Programs

A vibrant liberal arts program rounds out Sanford School’s challenging, college-prep academic experience so our students can pursue their individual strengths, interests, and passions both inside and outside the classroom. Through a complete program of music and theater, visual arts, clubs and activities, athletics and counseling services—not to mention really good food—students have daily opportunities to discover new talents, explore their interests, get support when needed, and enjoy time with friends. Without all this, and the facilities to match, we couldn’t live our motto, No Talent Lies Latent.

Sanford students are healthy, happy achievers. Our community provides a united and dynamic environment which offers a community rich in diversity. Students become close friends and teammates whose relationships often develop into lifelong friendships.

News & Events

Get the latest scoop about Sanford School! Visit often to view the school calendar, stay up-to-date on campus news, learn of upcoming performances and events, follow our Sanford News Network, read our Education Matters blog, and connect with us on social media. You can also check out the latest issues of SANFORD magazine.

Giving

Give the Gift of Excellence in Education

Your generous gift makes it possible for Sanford School to continue to provide the exceptional education that all members of the Sanford community deeply value. A gift to the Annual Fund is the very best way to sustain Sanford’s standards of excellence and bold approach to learning, offer a rich program full of opportunities that prepare students for success, attract and retain the very best students and faculty, and maintain a gorgeous and resourceful campus that provides the essential backdrop for a journey defined by quality and individuality. Please contact the Development office to learn about all the ways to support Sanford School with your gift.

About

Sanford School is an independent, college-preparatory school for boys and girls in preschool (age 3) through high school. Located on a striking 100-acre teaching campus in Hockessin, Delaware, we are proud to be one of the best private schools in the region. Sanford was founded in 1930 as an innovative school where No Talent Lies Latent. Ask any family, and they’ll tell you that Sanford’s faculty is dedicated to bringing this motto to life for every child, in every classroom, every day. Our students enjoy rigorous academics, opportunities in the arts and athletics, an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust, and immersion in a humane, worldly community that prepares them to succeed in every aspect of life.

Head of School Welcome

WHAT WILL YOU FIND AT SANFORD?

Yourself. That’s what makes Sanford so special—and what makes me so proud to be part of this creative, inclusive community.

Here at Sanford, we value each student for who you are, what you love and what you want to achieve. It’s this individual acceptance and support that make our school family diverse in its talents and exceptional in its achievements.

It’s why our families consistently report that their children are thriving, responding to challenges to do their best, and achieving success.

It’s why our graduates return to us year after year with tales about how they taught their dorm floor how to write a term paper, or how a professor displayed their work as examples. Or even, decades later, telling us that “even after graduate school, it’s been my opinion that the most education I’ve received in life came from my time at Sanford.”

Connect with Us

Mark Speaks to Sanford Families

List of 3 news stories.

Around this time each year, college sweatshirts begin appearing throughout the Upper School. The tradition at Sanford is that students are permitted to wear a school's gear once they are admitted to that particular college or university. I’m always amazed at the variety of colleges our students submit applications to and the plethora of enrollment offers they receive.

Recently we wrapped up the first semester of the 2018–19 school year. As such, the elective I teach, Leadership and Public Speaking, came to a close. My time with the ten students in this elective course was such a joy, truly a highlight of my year. I thought I’d share a few thoughts and reflections about this class and the students with whom I had the pleasure to work with this semester.